Portable storage device and transaction machine

ABSTRACT

In systems which execute transactions with an ATM using an IC card in which plural account information is registered in advance, one or more transaction information and intended use information indicating the intended uses of transactions to be executed by the ATM based on the transaction information are associated with each other and are registered as transaction data in the storage section of the IC card, so as to certainly prevent transactions or selections of accounts which are not intended by the user from being erroneously executed. Prior to the execution of transactions by the ATM, the transaction data is read out for the ATM and the intended use information included in the transaction data are displayed along with said transaction information included in the transaction data, in a transaction selection screen on the ATM.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a portable storage device such as an ICcard in which transaction data such as account numbers is registeredbeforehand and to a transaction machine such as an ATM (Automated TellerMachine) which executes predetermined transactions (for example,deposition, payment, balance inquiry, payment by transfer, transfer,etc.) based on the transaction data registered in such a portablestorage device.

BACKGROUND ART

In transaction cards, such as IC (Integrated Circuit) cards or magneticcards, issued by financial institutions such as banks, information abouta plurality of accounts can be registered so as to enable executingfinancial transactions (deposition, payment, update of passbook, balanceinquiry, payment by transfer, transfer, etc.) for the plurality ofaccounts, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open(Kokai) No. SHO 60-214077 (Patent Literature 1), Japanese PatentLaid-Open (Kokai) No. HEI 7-28918 (Patent Literature 2), Japanese PatentLaid-Open (Kokai) No. 2000-20818 (Patent Literature 3), etc.

When a user executes a transaction with an automated teller machine(ATM) using a transaction card in which information about a plurality ofaccounts (account information) is registered as described above, theaccount information about all the accounts (the names of banks, thenames of branch offices, the account numbers, etc.) registered in thetransaction card is displayed in an account selection screen on thedisplay section in the ATM. Then, by referring to the account selectionscreen, the user selects an account for which the transaction is to beexecuted, using the touch panel on the screen and selects a transactiontype (hereinafter, sometimes, referred to as an item; deposition,payment, balance inquiry, payment by transfer, transfer, etc.).

In general, when a user utilizes a plurality of accounts, in many cases,the intended uses are determined for definite purposes pertaining torespective accounts. For example, an account is used for payments ofsalary, an account is used for withdrawal for rent, an account is usedfor withdrawal for public utility charges, an account is used forwithdrawal for credit card payments, and an account is used for sendingmoney.

However, with existing ATMs, even when a plurality of accounts fordifferent intended uses are registered in a transaction card, the namesof banks, the names of branch offices and the account numbers aredisplayed, as previously described, for urging the user to select anaccount, so that the user can not distinguish the intended uses for therespective accounts and may erroneously select an unintended account,which may cause inconvenience. For example, when the user intends todeposit to an account exclusive for automatic withdrawal, he mayerroneously select and deposit to a wrong account, or he may erroneouslydraw out from an account exclusive for automatic withdrawal, which maylead to shortage in the balance in the account exclusive for automaticwithdrawal, thereby causing inconvenience in that withdrawal can not beexecuted.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems and aimsat enabling displaying the intended uses of respective accounts andenabling restricting selections of transaction types for the respectiveaccounts when a transaction is executed using a transaction card(portable storage device) in which a plurality of account information isregistered, so as to prevent transactions or selections of accountswhich are not intended by the user from being executed.

[Patent Literature 1]

-   -   Japanese Patent Laid-Open (Kokai) No. SHO 60-214077

[Patent Literature 2]

-   -   Japanese Patent Laid-Open (Kokai) No. HEI 7-28918

[Patent Literature 3]

-   -   Japanese Patent Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2000-20818

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain the aforementioned objects, a portable storage deviceaccording to the present invention includes a communicating section forsending or receiving data to or from a transaction machine and a storagesection for storing transaction data required for transactions to beexecuted by this transaction machine, wherein in the storage section,one or more transaction information and intended use informationindicating the intended uses of transactions to be executed by thetransaction machine based on the transaction information are associatedwith each other and are registered as the transaction data, thetransaction data in the storage section is read out for the transactionmachine through the communicating section prior to the execution oftransactions by the transaction machine, and the intended useinformation included in the transaction data are displayed along withthe transaction information included in the transaction data, in atransaction selection screen on the transaction machine.

Also, a portable storage device according to the present inventionincludes a communicating section and a storage section similarly tothose described above, wherein in the storage section, accountinformation about one or more accounts and intended use informationindicating the intended uses of the respective accounts are associatedwith each other and registered as the transaction data, the transactiondata in the storage section is read out for the transaction machinethrough the communicating section prior to the execution of transactionsby the transaction machine, and the intended use information included inthe transaction data are displayed along with the account informationincluded in the transaction data, in an account selection screen, on thetransaction machine, for selecting an account for which transactions areto be performed. When in the storage section, for each of the accounts,transaction type information indicating transaction types to be executedfor the account is registered as the transaction data, the transactiontype information included in the transaction data may be reflected onthe account selection screen on the transaction machine or a transactionselection screen for selecting transaction types to be executed by thetransaction machine.

On the other hand, a transaction machine according to the presentinvention performs predetermined transactions based on transaction dataregistered in a portable storage device and includes a communicatingsection for sending or receiving data to or from the portable storagedevice in which one or more transaction information and intended useinformation indicating the intended uses of the transaction informationare associated with each other and registered as the transaction data, adisplay section for displaying information about the predeterminedtransactions, an input section for enabling a user to input informationrequired for executing the predetermined transactions while referring tothe display section, a display control section which controls thedisplay state of the display section based on the transaction data readout from the portable storage device through the communicating sectionand information input from the input section, and a transactionexecuting section which executes the predetermined transactions based onthe transaction information included in the transaction data read outfrom the portable storage device through the communicating section andinformation input from the input section, wherein the display controlsection controls the display state of the display section to display,prior to the execution of transactions by the transaction executingsection, the intended use information included in the transaction dataalong with the transaction information included in the transaction datain a transaction selection screen on the display section.

Also, a transaction machine according to the present invention performspredetermined transactions based on transaction data registered in aportable storage device and includes a communicating section for sendingor receiving data to or from the portable storage device in whichaccount information about one or more accounts and intended useinformation indicating the intended uses of the respective accounts areassociated with each other and registered as the transaction data, adisplay section for displaying information about the predeterminedtransactions, an input section for enabling a user to input informationrequired for executing the predetermined transactions while referring tothe display section, a display control section which controls thedisplay state of the display section based on the transaction data readout from the portable storage device through the communicating sectionand information input from the input section, and a transactionexecuting section which executes the predetermined transactions based onthe account information included in the transaction data read out fromthe portable storage device through the communicating section andinformation input from the input section, wherein the display controlsection controls the display state of the display section to display,prior to the execution of transactions by the transaction executingsection, the intended use information included in the transaction dataalong with the account information included in the transaction data inan account selection screen, on the display section, for selecting anaccount for which transactions are to be executed.

Further, when in the portable device transaction type informationindicating transaction types to be executed for each of the accounts isregistered for each of the accounts as the transaction data, the displaycontrol section may cause the transaction type information included inthe transaction data read out from the portable storage device throughthe communicating section to be reflected on the account selectionscreen or a transaction selection screen for selecting transaction typesto be executed by the transaction executing section. At this time, thetransaction-type information is reflected thereon as the following items(1) to (3).

(1) The transaction-type information for respective accounts isdisplayed in the account selection screen.

(2) Selection keys for accounts which are associated with thetransaction type information including a transaction type selected bythe user through the input section are clearly displayed in the accountselection screen. At this time, a restriction releasing key forreleasing the restriction on the account selection is displayed in theaccount selection screen and, when the user designates the restrictionreleasing key through the input section, the selection keys for all theaccounts included in the transaction data may be made selectable anddisplayed in the account selection screen.

(3) Only the selection keys for transaction types designated by thetransaction type information for the account designated by the userthrough the input section are displayed in the transaction selectionscreen for the account. At this time, a restriction releasing key forreleasing the restriction on the selection of transaction types may bedisplayed and, when the user designates the restriction releasing keythrough the input section, the selection keys for all the transactiontypes may be displayed in the transaction type selection screen.

The transaction machine may further include changing means for changingthe intended use information read out from the portable storage deviceand writing means for writing the intended use information changed bythe changing means into the portable storage device through thecommunicating section. In this case, the display control section maycause a setting changing key for commanding changes of the intended useinformation to be displayed on the display section and, when the userdesignates the setting changing key through the input section, may causea setting changing screen to be displayed on the display section, andthe user changes the intended use information using the input section,by referring to the setting changing screen.

Also, the transaction machine may further include changing means forchanging the transaction type information read out from the portablestorage device and writing means for writing the transaction typeinformation changed by the changing means into the portable storagedevice through the communicating section. In this case, the displaycontrol section may cause a setting changing key for commanding changesof the transaction type information to be displayed on the displaysection and, when the user designates the setting changing key throughthe input section, may cause a setting changing screen to be displayedon the display section, and the user may change the transaction typeinformation using the input section, by referring to the settingchanging screen.

With the aforementioned portable storage device and the transactionmachine according to an embodiment of the present invention, theintended use information for respective transactions or respectiveaccounts are registered beforehand in the portable storage device andthus in the transaction machine the intended uses can be displayed on aselection screen on the transaction machine when transactions using theportable storage device are to be executed. Thus, the user can selecttransactions or accounts while referring to the intended useinformation. This may certainly prevent transactions or accountselections which are not intended by the user from being erroneouslyexecuted.

Further, for respective accounts, transaction type informationindicating transaction types to be executed for the accounts isregistered in the portable storage device, and in the transactionmachine the transaction type information can be reflected on the accountselection screen and the transaction selection screen to restrict theselection of transaction types for the respective accounts, whentransactions using the portable storage device are to be executed. Thismay certainly prevent transaction types which are not intended by theuser from being erroneously selected.

At this time, the transaction type information for the respectiveaccounts are displayed in the account selection screen and thus the usercan certainly recognize the transaction types to be executed for therespective accounts. This may certainly prevent the user fromerroneously selecting wrong transaction types for the selected account.

Further, the selection keys for accounts associated with transactiontype information including transaction types designated by the user maybe clearly displayed or only the selection keys for transaction typesdesignated by the transaction type information associated with anaccount designated by the user may be displayed in the transactionselection screen, which enables easily and certainly restricting on theselection of transaction types for respective accounts.

At this time, a restriction releasing key for releasing the restrictionon the selection of accounts or transaction types may be displayed and,when the restriction releasing key is designated, all the selection keysmay be selectably displayed. Therefore, even when the selection isrestricted in the account selection screen or the transaction selectionscreen, the restriction on selection can be released as required by theuser and the user can freely select transaction types, thereby improvingthe convenience.

Further, the user can cause a setting change screen to be displayed byusing a setting changing key in the transaction machine and can changethe intended use information or the transaction type information andwrite it into the portable storage device, while referring to thesetting change screen. Therefore, the user can freely change thecontents of the intended use information or the transaction typeinformation (the restriction on selections) and reset them in theportable storage device, thereby improving the convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configurations of a portablestorage device (IC card) and a transaction machine (ATM) according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a concrete example of transaction dataregistered in an IC card according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a first aspect of the operation ofthe transaction machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an initial screen (item selection screen)in the first aspect.

FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are views illustrating account selection screens in theaforementioned first aspect.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are views illustrating item selection screens(transaction selection screens) in the aforementioned first aspect.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining the second aspect of theoperation of the transaction machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an initial screen (item selection screen)in the aforementioned second aspect.

FIG. 12 to FIG. 16 are views illustrating setting change screens in theaforementioned second aspect.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart for explaining a third aspect of the operationof the transaction machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating an initial screen (card insertioncommanding screen) in the aforementioned third aspect.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained withreference to the drawings.

[1] Configuration of the Present Invention

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configurations of a portablestorage device (IC card) and a transaction machine (ATM) according to anembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view illustrating aconcrete example of transaction data registered in the IC card accordingto the present embodiment.

In the transaction system according to the present embodiment, acustomer who utilizes transactions (hereinafter, referred to as a user)carries an IC card 10 configured as illustrated in FIG. 1 and ATMcorners in financial institutions such as banks are equipped with ATMs20 configured as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The IC card 10 (transaction card, portable storage device), which isissued by a financial institution such as a bank and carried by the useras previously described, is configured to include a communicatingsection 11 and a storage section 12. Further, the IC card 10 may be ofeither contact-type or non-contact-type.

The communicating section 11 is adapted for receiving or sending datafrom or to the ATM 20 (an IC-card unit 22 which will be describedlater). In the case where the IC card 10 is of contact-type, thecommunicating section 11 is configured as a contact terminal provided onthe surface of the IC card. In the case where the IC card 10 is ofnon-contact type, the communicating section 11 is configured as acoil-type antenna embedded in the IC card 10.

The storage section 12 stores transaction data required for transactionsto be executed by the ATM 20 (a transaction executing section 21 c whichwill be described later). In this storage section 12, accountinformation about one or more account (bank numbers, branch-officenumbers, account numbers, the names of banks, and the names of branchoffices), intended-use information indicating the intended uses of therespective accounts (hereinafter, referred to as the purposes of use orthe contents of use) and transaction type information indicatingtransaction types (hereinafter, referred to as transactable items) to beexecuted for the respective accounts are associated with one another andregistered as the aforementioned transaction data.

As will be described later, the transaction data in the storage section12 is read out to the ATM 20 sides through the communicating section 11prior to the execution of transactions by the ATM 20. Then, theintended-use information included in the transaction data is displayed,along with the account information included in the transaction data, inan account selection screen for selecting an account for whichtransactions are to be executed in the ATM 20. Besides, the transactiontype information included in the transaction data is reflected on theaccount selection screen on the ATM 20 or a transaction selection screen(sometimes, referred to as an item selection screen) for selecting itemsto be executed in the ATM 20.

The aforementioned account information or the purposes of use and thetransactable items for the respective accounts are basically applied forby the user at the window of a financial institution and registered, atthe window, in the storage section 12 of the IC card 10. Also, the usermay register the purposes of use and the transactable items for therespective accounts by operating the ATM 20. In the present embodiment,the user can change the purposes of use and the transactable items forthe respective accounts, which are stored in the storage section 12,through the ATM 20 as will be described in a second aspect and a thirdaspect.

FIG. 2 illustrates a concrete example of the transaction data registeredin the IC card 10 according to the present embodiment. The transactiondata illustrated in FIG. 2 includes five pieces of information. Thefirst account information relates to an account of A branch office of Abank (an account number of 1111111) and the second account informationrelates to an account of B branch office of A bank (an account number of2222222). The third account information relates to an account of Abranch office of B bank (an account number of 1234567), the forthaccount information relates to an account of B branch office of B bank(an account number of 9876543), and the fifth account informationrelates to an account of A branch office of C bank (an account number of1122334).

Further, the purposes of use for the respective accounts are set andregistered. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the purpose of use forthe first account is set to “a salary account” (an account to whichsalary is transferred), the purpose of use for the second account is setto “a travel expenses account”, the purpose of use for the third accountis set to “rent withdrawal”(an account from which rent is withdrawn),the purpose of use for the forth account is set to “public utilitycharges withdrawal”(an account from which public utility charges arewithdrawn), and the purpose of use for the fifth account is set to“sending money”(an account for sending money),

Further, in the example illustrated in FIG. 2, for the respective items(pay, deposit and balance inquiry), “1” is set for valid items while “0”is set for invalid items. Thus, transactable items are set for eachaccount. Namely, items for which “1” is set are transactable items whileexecutions of items for which “0” is set are restricted(transaction-restricted items). More specifically, for the first andsecond accounts, all of the items are set to transactable items, whilefor the third to fifth accounts two items, which are deposit and balanceinquiry, are set to transactable items and the other items are set totransaction-restricted items.

On the other hand, the automatic machine (automatic deposition paymentmachine, ATM, transaction machine) 20 executes predeterminedtransactions based on the transaction data registered in the IC card 10and is configured to include a control section 21, an IC-card unit 22, acustomer-side display LCD 23, a customer operation touch panel 24, apersonnel-side display LCD 25, a personnel operation touch panel 26, apaper-money unit 27, a coin unit 28, a passbook unit 29, a receiptprinter 30 and a journal printer 31.

The IC-card unit (communicating section) 22 is adapted for receiving andsending data from and to the IC card 10.

The customer-side LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 23 functions as a displaysection for displaying various types of information (an initial screenwhich will be described later, the account selection screen, the itemselection screen, etc) to be referred to by the user when he executespredetermined transactions by the ATM 20.

The customer operation touch panel (an input section, a changing means)24 is provided on the screen of the customer-side display LCD 23 andfunctions as an input section for enabling the user to push and inputinformation required for executing predetermined transactions whilereferring to the customer-side display LCD 23. Further, the customeroperation touch panel 24 is used by the user for inputting changes whenhe changes the purposes of use and the transactable items, as will bedescribed later.

The personnel-side display LCD 25 displays various types of informationto be referred to by personnel when he performs maintenance of the ATM20 or replenishes paper money, coins or receipt paper. The personneloperation touch panel 26 is provided on the screen of the personnel-sidedisplay LCD 25 and is adapted for enabling personnel to push and inputinformation required for performing the aforementioned maintenance orreplenishment while referring to the personnel-side display LCD 25.

The paper-money unit 27 is a unit for paying/receiving paper money andthe coin unit 28 is a unit for paying/receiving coins. The pass bookunit 29 is a unit for printing passbooks, and the receipt printer 30 isa unit for printing receipts. The journal printer 31 is a unit forprinting journals.

The control section 21 controls collectively the overall operation ofthe ATM 20. Particularly, in order to realize characteristic operationsof the present invention, the control section 21 includes an ATMreference area 21 a and functions as a display control section 21 b, atransaction executing section 21 c, a changing means 21 d and a writingmeans 21 e.

The ATM reference area 21 a is an area into which the transaction dataread out from the IC card 10 through the IC-card unit 22 is written andis actually a storage area in a RAM (Random Access Memory).

The display control section 21 b controls the display state of the LCD23 based on the transaction data read out from the IC card 10 throughthe IC-card unit 22 and information input from the touch panel 24. Morespecifically, the display control section 21 b performs the followingdisplay controls (1) to (3).

(1) When waiting for the IC card 10 being inserted, an initial screen isdisplayed on the LCD 23 of the ATM 20. More specifically, an itemselection screen illustrated in FIG. 4 is displayed as the initialscreen in the first aspect, which will be described later, and an itemselection screen illustrated in FIG. 11 is displayed as the initialscreen in the second aspect, which will be described later. A cardinsertion commanding screen illustrated in FIG. 18 is displayed as theinitial screen in the third aspect which will be described later.

(2) After the IC card 10 is inserted, prior to the execution oftransactions by the transaction executing section 21 c, the purposes ofuse included in the transaction data in the ATM reference area 21 a aredisplayed along with the account information included in the transactiondata, in the account selection screen, on the LCD 23, for selecting anaccount for which transactions are to be executed (see FIGS. 5 to 7, andFIG. 12).

(3) The transaction type information (transactable items) included inthe transaction data in the ATM reference area 21 a is reflected on theaforementioned account selection screen or the item selection screen forselecting items to be executed by the transaction execution section 21 c(see FIG. 5, FIG. 7 and FIG. 9). The concrete manner of reflecting thetransaction type information (transactable items) thereon is as thefollowing items (3-1) to (3-3).

(3-1) The transaction type information (transactable items) forrespective accounts is displayed in the account selection screen (seeFIG. 7).

(3-2) Selection keys for accounts, which are associated with transactiontype information (transactable items) including an item selected by theuser through the touch panel 24 are clearly displayed in the accountselection screen (see FIG. 5). Further, there is effected a display of arestriction releasing key for releasing the restriction on accountselection in the account selection screen (see FIG. 5). When the userdesignates the restriction releasing key through the touch panel 24, theselection keys for all the accounts included in the transaction data aremade selectable and displayed in the account selection screen (see FIG.6).

(3-3) Only the selection keys for items (transactable items) designatedby the transaction type information for the account designated by theuser through the touch panel 24 are displayed in the item selectionscreen (see FIG. 9). Further, a restriction releasing key for releasingthe restriction on item selection is displayed (see FIG. 7). When theuser designates the restriction releasing key through the input section24, the selection keys for all the items are displayed in the itemselection screen (see FIG. 8).

The transaction executing section 21 c executes predeterminedtransactions based on the account information included in thetransaction data in the ATM reference area 21 a and information inputfrom the touch panel 24.

Further, the changing means 21 d and the writing means 21 e function inthe second aspect and the third aspect which will be described later.The changing means 21 d changes the purposes of use and the transactiontype information based on information input through touch panel 24 bythe user. Further, the writing means 21 e writes the purposes of use orthe transaction type information changed by the touch panel 24 and thechanging means 21 d into the IC card 10 through the IC-card unit 22.

At this time, the display control section 21 b causes the LCD 23 todisplay a setting change key for commanding changes of the purposes ofuse or the transaction type information (see FIG. 11). When the userdesignates the setting change key through the touch panel 24, thedisplay control section 21 b causes the LCD 23 to display a settingchange screen (see FIG. 13 to FIG. 16). The user inputs changes of thepurposes of use or the transaction type information using the touchpanel 24 by referring to the setting change screen and the changingmeans 21 d changes the purposes of use and the transaction typeinformation in the ATM reference area 21 a, based on the input changes.

Here, the control section 21 is constituted by, for example, a CPU(Central Processing Unit), RAMs and ROMs, etc., and the CPU executespredetermined programs to realize the functions of the display controlsection 21 b, the transaction executing section 21 c, the changing means21 d and the writing means 21 e which have been described above. Theaforementioned programs are provided in the form of programs recorded ina computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM,a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD, etc. In this case, the CPU reads out theaforementioned programs from the recording medium, then transfers themto an internal storage device or an external storage device and storesthem therein for use. Also, the programs may be recorded in a storagedevice (recording medium) such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, anda magnetic optical disk and may be provided from the storage device tothe CPU through a communication line.

[2] The Operation of the Present Embodiment

[2-1] First Aspect

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the first aspect of the operationof the ATM (transaction machine) 20 according to the present embodiment.FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an initial screen (item selection screen)according to the first aspect. FIGS. 5 to 7 are views illustratingaccount selection screens according to the first aspect. FIG. 8 and FIG.9 are views illustrating item selection screens (transaction selectionscreens) according to the first aspect.

In the first aspect, with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 9, according tothe flowchart (steps S10 to S28) illustrated in FIG. 3, there will bedescribed the operation of the ATM 20 (control section 21) in the casewhere the changing means 21 d and the writing means 21 e do not functionand the user can not change the purposes of use and the transactableitems through the ATM 20.

When the insertion of the IC card 10 being awaited, an item selectionscreen illustrated in FIG. 4 is displayed on the LCD 23 of the ATM 20 asthe initial screen (step S10). In the item selection screen illustratedin FIG. 4, there are displayed six selection keys which are pay,deposit, update of passbook, balance inquiry, pay by transfer andtransfer are displayed and when the user pushes the display area of eachselection key, the item (transaction type) of the pushed area isselected by the function of the touch panel 24.

When a selection key is pushed to select an item at the state where theitem selection screen is displayed (the YES route of step S11), theinsertion of the IC card 10 is waited (NO route of step S12). When theIC card 10 is inserted (YES route of step S12), the IC-card unit 22 inthe ATM 20 sends a data-reading request to the IC card 10 and thetransaction data (IC-card data) illustrated in FIG. 2 is read out fromthe storage section 12 in the IC card 10 and stored in the ATM referencearea 21 a (step S13).

Then, by referring to the transaction data in the ATM reference area 21a, the display control section 21 b edits an account selection screenbased on the transaction data and the item selected by the user andcauses the LCD 23 to display the account selection screen (step S14).For example, when pay is selected as an item in the state where thetransaction data illustrated in FIG. 2 is stored in the ATM referencearea 21 a, the display control section 21 b classifies the accounts intoaccounts for which pay is set to valid “1” (namely, accounts for whichpay is set as a transactable item) and accounts for which pay is set toinvalid “0” (namely, accounts for which the transaction of pay isrestricted). Then, the display control section 21 b edits an accountselection screen in which these two types of accounts (accountinformation) are clarified (see, for example, FIG. 5) and causes the LCD23 to display the account selection screen. Further, in the accountselection screen illustrated in FIG. 5, the contents of use for therespective accounts are displayed along with the account information(the names of banks/branch offices and account numbers) and in addition,a restriction releasing key for releasing the aforementioned restrictionon transactions (the restriction on selections) is displayed. While inthe account selection screen illustrated in FIG. 5 the accountinformation for the transactable accounts and the account informationfor the accounts for which transactions are restricted are displayedsuch that they are classified, only the account information fortransactable accounts may be displayed and the account information foraccounts for which transactions are restricted may not be displayed inthe account selection screen.

After the account selection screen as illustrated in FIG. 5 isdisplayed, when the user designates the restriction releasing keythrough the touch panel 24, namely when the user pushes the display areaof the restriction releasing key (YES route of step S15), the displaycontrol section 21 b edits an account selection screen in which theselection keys for all the accounts included in the transaction data areselectable (see, for example, FIG. 6) and causes the LCD 23 to displayit (step S16). Thus, an account selection screen as illustrated in FIG.6 is displayed on the LCD 23, instead of the account selection screen asillustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, by referring to the account selectionscreen as illustrated in FIG. 6 and taking account of the contents ofuse for the respective accounts, the user selects an account for whichthe transaction of the selected item (pay in this case) is to beexecuted, from all the accounts (step S17).

When the user designates the selection key for an account for which thetransaction is to be executed, namely when the user pushes the displayarea of the selection key to select an account for which the transactionis to be executed (YES route of step S17), the transaction executingsection 21 c starts and executes the transaction of the selected itemfor the selected account (step S19). The transaction processes from thenon is similar to conventional processes and the explanation thereof willbe omitted. When this transaction process is terminated, the processreturns to step S10.

Also, when the user does not push the restriction releasing key (NOroute of step S15) and then selects an account for which the transactionis to be executed from the transactable accounts by referring to theaccount selection screen as illustrated in FIG. 5 and taking intoaccount the contents of use for the respective transactable accounts(two account in FIG. 5) (YES route of step S18), the transactionexecuting section 21 c starts and executes the transaction of theselected item for the selected account similarly to previously described(step S19). Then, the process returns to step S10.

On the other hand, in the case where the user inserts the IC card 10into the ATM 20 before selecting an item (in the case where theinsertion of the card precedes; NO route of step S11 and YES route ofstep S20), the IC-card unit 22 in the ATM 20 sends a data-readingrequest to the IC card 10 and the transaction data (IC-card data)illustrated in FIG. 2 is read out from the storage section 12 in the ICcard 10 and stored in the ATM reference area 21 a, similarly to theaforementioned step S13 (step S21).

Subsequently, by referring to the transaction data in the ATM referencearea 21 a, the display control section 21 c edits an account selectionscreen for displaying information about all the accounts included in thetransaction data (information including the account information (thenames of banks/branch offices and the account numbers), the purposes ofuse (the contents of use), and the transactable items) (see FIG. 7).Then, the display control section 21 a causes the LCD 23 to display theaccount selection screen (step S22). In the account selection screen, asillustrated in FIG. 7, a restriction releasing key for releasing therestriction on transactions (restriction on selections) is furtherdisplayed. In the case where the information about all accounts cannotbe displayed in a single screen (account selection screen), anext-screen key is provided and when the user pushes the next-screenkey, information, which could not be displayed in a single screen, isdisplayed in the next screen.

In the state where the account selection screen illustrated in FIG. 7 isdisplayed, when the user pushes the restriction releasing key (YES routeof step S23) and then selects an account for which a transaction is tobe executed, from all the accounts in the account selection screenillustrated in FIG. 7, by referring to the purposes of use (the contentsof use) (YES route of step S24), the display control section 21 b causesthe selection keys for all items to be displayed in the item selectionscreen as illustrated in FIG. 8 (step S25). In the item selection screenillustrated in FIG. 8, similarly to the initial screen, six selectionkeys, which are pay, deposit, update of passbook, balance inquiry, payby transfer and transfer, are displayed.

In the state where the account selection screen illustrated in FIG. 7 isdisplayed, when the user does not push the restriction releasing key (NOroute of step S23) and then selects an account for which a transactionis to be executed, from all accounts in the account selection screenillustrated in FIG. 7 by referring to the purposes of use (the contentsof uses) and the transactable items (YES route of step S26), the displaycontrol section 21 b causes only the selection keys for items preset forthe selected account to be displayed in the item selection screen, asillustrated in FIG. 9 (step S27). The item selection screen illustratedin FIG. 9 corresponds to the case where the account of A branch officeof C bank (the fifth account) is selected in the account selectionscreen illustrated in FIG. 7. In the item selection screen, only twoselection keys for deposit and balance inquiry, which are set astransactable item for the account, are displayed.

When the user selects, by referring to the item selection screendisplayed at step S25 or step S27, an account from the screen (YES routeof step S28), the transaction executing section 21 c starts and executesthe transaction of the selected item for the selected account, similarlyto previously described (step S19). Then, the process returns to stepS10.

[2-2] Second Aspect

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining the second aspect of theoperation of the ATM (transaction machine) 20 according to the presentembodiment. FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an initial screen (itemselection screen) in the second aspect. FIGS. 12 to 16 are viewsillustrating setting change screens in the second aspect.

In the second aspect, with reference to FIG. 11 to FIG. 16, according tothe flow chart (steps S30 to S54) illustrated in FIG. 10, there will bedescribed the operation of the ATM 20 in the case where the changingmeans 21 d and the writing means 21 e function and the user can changethe purposes of use (the contents of use) and the transactable itemthrough the ATM 20 (control section 21).

When the insertion of the IC card 10 being awaited, the item selectionscreen illustrated in FIG. 11 is displayed, as an initial image plane,on the LCD 23 of the ATM 20 (step S30). In the item selection screenillustrated in FIG. 11, similarly to the item selection screen in FIG.4, six selection keys, which are pay, deposit, update of passbook,balance inquiry, pay by transfer and transfer, are displayed and asetting change key for commanding changes of the purposes of use (thecontents of use) and the transactable item is further displayed. Whenthe user pushes the display area of each key, the item or the settingchanging function of the pushed area is selected by the function of thetouch panel 24.

When a key out of the seven keys is pushed in the state where theinitial screen is displayed (YES route of step S31), the insertion ofthe IC card 10 is wait (NO route in step S32). When the IC card 10 isinserted (YES route of step S32), the IC-card unit 22 in the ATM 20sends a data-reading request to the IC card 10 and the transaction data(IC-card data) illustrated in FIG. 2 is read out from the storagesection 12 in the IC card 10 and stored in the ATM reference area 21 a(step S33). Then, at step S38, it is determined whether or not the keypushed in the aforementioned initial screen is the setting change key.

On the other hand, in the case where the user inserts the IC card 10into the ATM 20 before selecting and pushing a key in the initial screen(in the case where the insertion of the card precedes; NO route of stepS31 and YES route of step S34), the IC-card unit 22 in the ATM 20 sendsa data-reading request to the IC card 10 and the transaction data(IC-card data) illustrated in FIG. 2 is read out from the storagesection 12 in the IC card 10 and stored in the ATM reference area 21 asimilarly to the aforementioned step S33 (step S35). At this time, inthe second aspect, the initial screen illustrated in FIG. 11 iscontinuously displayed on the LCD 23 (step S36) and when a key of theseven keys is pushed in the initial screen (YES route of step S37), itis determined whether or not the pushed key is the setting change key(step S38).

When it is determined, at step S38 that the pushed key is an itemselection key, not the setting change key (NO route), the processessteps S39 to S44 are executed. Steps S39 to S44 are similar to steps S14to S19 in FIG. 3 and therefore the explanation thereof will be omitted.When the transaction process at step S44 has ended, the process returnsto step S30.

When it is determined, at step S38, that the setting change key has beenpushed (YES route), the display control section 21 b edits, by referringto the transaction data in the ATM reference area 21 a, an accountselection screen (setting change screen) for selecting an account forwhich the setting is to be changed and causes the LCD 23 to display theaccount selection screen (step S45). In the account selection screen,for example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the account information (thenames of banks/branch offices and the account numbers) and the contentsof use for all accounts included in the transaction data in the ATMreference area 21 a are displayed.

When the user selects an account for which the setting is to be changed,from among all the accounts in the account selection screen illustratedin FIG. 12, by referring to the purposes of use (the contents of uses)(YES route of step S46), the display control section 21 b edits, byreferring to the transaction data in the ATM reference area 21 a, anitem change screen (setting change screen) or a use change screen(setting change screen) including the information about the selectedaccount and causes the LCD 23 to display it (step S47).

Here, in the item change screen, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 13,the current transactable items and the current content of use (thepurpose of use) for the selected account are displayed by text and theselection keys for all the items, a use changing key for switching tothe use change screen illustrated in FIG. 14 and a confirmation key forconfirming changes are displayed. Specifically, in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 13, “salary account” is set as the content of useand pay and deposit are set as transactable items. In the item changescreen, the selection keys set for transactable items are displayed in adifferent state from the selection keys which are not set for thetransactable items. In FIG. 13, the selection keys set for transactableitems are hatched. In an actual display screen, for example, theselection keys set for transactable items are displayed in a gray colorindicating the pushed state, while the selection keys which are not setfor transactable items are displayed in a blue color indicating theun-pushed state. In the item change screen, when any of the selectionkeys set for transactable items is pushed a single time, the selectionkey is changed to the state where it is not set for a transactable item,and on the contrary when any of the selection keys which are not set fortransactable items is pushed a single time, the selection key is changedto the state where it is set for a transactable item.

Further, in the use change screen, for example, as illustrated in FIG.14, the current content of use (purpose of use) for the selected accountis displayed by text and the selection keys for all contents of use(purposes of uses), an item changing key for switching to the itemchange screen illustrated in FIG. 13 and a confirmation key forconfirming changes are displayed. Specifically, in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 14, “salary account” is set as the content of use.In the use change screen, the selection keys set for the contents of useand the selection keys which are not set for the contents of use aredisplayed in different states. In FIG. 14, the selection keys which arecurrently set for the contents of use are hatched. In an actual displayscreen, for example, the selection keys which are currently set for thecontents of use are displayed in a gray color indicating the pushedstate, while the other keys are displayed in a blue color indicating theun-pushed state. In the use change screen, when any of the selectionkeys set for the contents of use is pushed a single time, the selectionkey is changed to the state where it is not set for a transactable item,and on the contrary when any of the selection keys which are not set forthe contents of use is pushed a single time, the selection key ischanged to the state where it is set for the content of use. In the casewhere only a single item is set as the content of use, when a selectionkey which is not set for the content of use is pushed a single time, theselection key is switched to the state where it is set for the contentof use and concurrently the selection key which has been set for thecontent of use is switched to a selection key which is not set for theuse content.

At a step S47, depending on the use changing key or the item changingkey which was pushed, one of the aforementioned item change screen andthe use change screen is displayed on the LCD 23 and the content of useor the transactable items for the selected account is changed.

At this time, the transaction data in the form illustrated in FIG. 2 isstored in a work area (not shown; for example, an area in a RAM) and thechanging means 21 d reverses the validity “1”/invalidity “0” of thetransactable items in the transaction data in the work area and changesthe contents of use (the purposes of use) in the transaction data in thework area, depending on the aforementioned switching pushing operation.

When the contents of use and the transactable items have been changedand the confirmation key in the item change screen or the use changescreen has been pushed (YES route of step S48), the display controlsection 21 b causes the LCD 23 to display a correction/confirmationscreen (setting change screen) (step S49). In thecorrection/confirmation screen, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 15,the content of changes (the transactable items and the contents of useafter changing) is displayed by text and a confirmation key which ispushed for correcting the content of changes and a correction key whichis pushed for correcting the content of changes are displayed.

When the user pushes the correction key in the correction/confirmationscreen (“correction” route of step S50), the process returns to step S45and the same processes are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, whenthe user pushes the confirmation key in the correction/confirmationscreen (“confirmation” route of step S50), the display control section21 b causes the LCD 23 to display a continue/confirmation screen(setting change screen) (step S51). In the continue/confirmation screen,for example, as illustrated in FIG. 16, a confirmation key which ispushed for terminating the setting changing process and a continue keywhich is pushed for continuously executing the setting changing processare displayed.

When the user pushes the continue key in the continue/confirmationscreen (“continue” route of step S52), the process returns to step S45and the same processes are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, whenthe user pushes the confirmation key in the continue/confirmation screen(“confirmation” route of step S52), the writing means 21 e causes a datarewriting request to be sent to the IC card 10 from the IC-card unit 22in the ATM 20 and the transaction data in the storage section 12 in theIC card 10 corresponding to the data rewriting request is rewrittenbased on the change information in the aforementioned work area (stepS53). Subsequently, the content of changes is printed on a receipt andjournal by the receipt printer 30 and the journal printer 31, and thenthe receipt and the IC card 10 are returned to the user (step S54).Then, the process returns to step S10.

[2-3] Third Aspect

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the third aspect of the operationof the ATM 20 according to the present embodiment and FIG. 18 is a viewillustrating an initial screen (card insertion commanding screen)according to the third aspect.

In the third aspect, basically, the process is executed with the sameprocedure as that of the second aspect. However, in the third aspect, asthe initial screen, instead of the item selection screen as in thesecond aspect (see FIG. 1), the card insertion commanding screen asillustrated in FIG. 18 is displayed on the LCD 23 of the ATM 20 (stepS60 in FIG. 17). When the user refers to the card insertion commandingscreen and inserts the IC card 10 into the ATM 20 (the IC-card unit 22)(YES route of step S61), the process proceeds to step S35 in FIG. 10 andthe same processes as those (steps S35 to S54) of the second aspect areexecuted.

[3] The Effects of the Invention

As described above, with the IC card 10 and the ATM 20 according to anembodiment of the present invention, by registering, beforehand, thepurposes of use for respective accounts (respective transactions) in thestorage section 12 in the IC card 10, the purposes of use are displayedon the LCD 23 of the ATM 20 along with the account information (the nameof bank/branch office and the account number) when transactions usingthe IC card 10 are to be executed. Thus, the user can recognize thepurposes of use of the respective accounts at a glance and can select anaccount by referring to the purposes of use. This certainly prevents theuser from erroneously selecting an unintended account.

Further, by registering, beforehand, transactable items in the storagesection 12 of the IC card 10, the information about the transactableitems is reflected on the account selection screen and the itemselection screen in the ATM 20 to restrict the selection of items forthe respective accounts (transaction types), when transactions using theIC card 10 are to be executed. This certainly prevents the user fromerroneously selecting items which are not intended by the user.

At this time, the transactable items for the respective accounts aredisplayed as illustrated in FIG. 7 and thus the user can certainlyrecognize the transactable items for the respective accounts. Thiscertainly prevents the user from erroneously selecting wrong items forthe selected account.

Further, for example, the selection keys for accounts for which an itemdesignated by the user is set as a transactable item may be clearlydisplayed in the account selection screen as illustrated in FIG. 5 or,for example, only the selection keys for transactable items set for anaccount designated by the user may be displayed in the transactionselection screen as illustrated in FIG. 9, thereby easily and certainlyrestricting the selection of items for the respective accounts. At thistime, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the restriction releasing keycan be displayed and, when the restriction releasing key is designated,all the selection keys can be made selectable and displayed (see FIG. 6and FIG. 8). Therefore, even when the selection is restricted in theaccount selection screen or the item selection screen, the restrictionon selections can be released as required by the user and the user canfreely select transaction types, thereby improving the convenience.

Further, the user can cause the setting change screen (see FIG. 12 toFIG. 16) to be displayed using the setting changing key (see FIG. 11) inthe ATM 20. Then the user can change the contents of use and thetransactable items by referring to the setting change screen and canwrite them into the storage section 12 in the IC card 10. Therefore, theuser can freely change the contents of use and the contents oftransactable items (the restriction on selection) and reset them in theIC card 10 as required, thereby improving the convenience.

[4] Others

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodimentand can be implemented by making various modifications thereto withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, while in the aforementioned embodiment there have beendescribed cases where transactions are financial transactions (deposit,pay, update of passbook, balance inquiry, pay by transfer, or transfer)using accounts of financial institutions, the present invention is notlimited to this and can be applied to various types of electroniccommercial transactions similarly to the aforementioned embodiment toobtain similar effects.

Further, while in the aforementioned embodiment there have beendescribed cases where the portable storage device is an IC card, thepresent invention is not limited to this and can be applied to anyportable device having a storing function such as magnetic cards,optical cards, bio-cards, portable phones, or PDAs (Personal DigitalAssistants) to achieve the same effects as those of the aforementionedembodiment.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, with the present invention, by registering intendeduse information for respective transactions or respective accountsbeforehand, the intended use information can be displayed in theselection screen on the transaction machine when transactions areexecuted using the portable storage device, which can certainly preventtransactions or selections of accounts which are not intended by theuser from being executed.

Therefore, the present invention is suitable for systems which executetransactions such as deposition, payment, balance inquiry, payment bytransfer or transfer using an IC card in which plural accountinformation is registered in advance and the convenience thereof isextremely high.

1. A portable storage device comprising: a communicating section forsending or receiving data to or from a transaction machine; and astorage section for storing transaction data required for transactionsto be executed by said transaction machine; wherein in said storagesection, one or more transaction information and intended useinformation indicating the intended uses of transactions to be executedby said transaction machine based on the transaction information areassociated with each other and are registered as said transaction data;said transaction data in said storage section is read out for saidtransaction machine through said communicating section prior to theexecution of transactions by said transaction machine, and said intendeduse information included in said transaction data are displayed alongwith said transaction information included in said transaction data, ina transaction selection screen on said transaction machine.
 2. Aportable storage device according to claim 1, wherein in said storagesection, account information about one or more accounts and intended useinformation indicating the intended uses of the respective accounts areassociated with each other and registered as said transaction data; saidtransaction data in said storage section is read out for saidtransaction machine through said communicating section prior to theexecution of transactions by said transaction machine, and said intendeduse information included in said transaction data are displayed alongwith said account information included in said transaction data, in anaccount selection screen, on said transaction machine, for selecting anaccount for which transactions are to be performed.
 3. A portablestorage device according to claim 2, wherein in said storage section,for each of said accounts, transaction type information indicatingtransaction types to be executed for the account is registered as saidtransaction data, and said transaction type information included in saidtransaction data is reflected on said account selection screen on saidtransaction machine or a transaction selection screen for selectingtransaction types to be executed by said transaction machine.
 4. Atransaction machine which performs predetermined transactions based ontransaction data registered in a portable storage device, saidtransaction machine comprising: a communicating section for sending orreceiving data to or from said portable storage device in which one ormore transaction information and intended use information indicating theintended uses of the transaction information are associated with eachother and registered as said transaction data; a display section fordisplaying information about said predetermined transactions; an inputsection for enabling a user to input information required for executingsaid predetermined transactions while referring to said display section;a display control section which controls the display state of saiddisplay section based on said transaction data read out from saidportable storage device through said communicating section andinformation input from said input section; and a transaction executingsection which executes said predetermined transactions based on saidtransaction information included in said transaction data read out fromsaid portable storage device through said communicating section andinformation input from said input section; wherein said display controlsection controls the display state of said display section to display,prior to the execution of transactions by said transaction executingsection, said intended use information included in said transaction dataalong with said transaction information included in said transactiondata in a transaction selection screen on said display section.
 5. Atransaction machine which performs predetermined transactions based ontransaction data registered in a portable storage device, saidtransaction machine comprising: a communicating section for sending orreceiving data to or from said portable storage device in which accountinformation about one or more accounts and intended use informationindicating the intended uses of the respective accounts are associatedwith each other and registered as said transaction data; a displaysection for displaying information about said predeterminedtransactions; an input section for enabling a user to input informationrequired for executing said predetermined transactions while referringto said display section; a display control section which controls thedisplay state of said display section based on said transaction dataread out from said portable storage device through said communicatingsection and information input from said input section; and a transactionexecuting section which executes said predetermined transactions basedon said account information included in said transaction data read outfrom said portable storage device through said communicating section andinformation input from said input section (24); wherein said displaycontrol section controls the display state of said display section todisplay, prior to the execution of transactions by said transactionexecuting section, said intended use information included in saidtransaction data along with said account information included in saidtransaction data in an account selection screen, on said displaysection, for selecting an account for which transactions are to beexecuted.
 6. A transaction machine according to claim 5, wherein in saidportable device, transaction type information indicating transactiontypes to be executed for each of said accounts is registered for each ofsaid accounts as said transaction data, and said display control sectioncauses said transaction type information included in said transactiondata read out from said portable storage device through saidcommunicating section to be reflected on said account selection screenor a transaction selection screen for selecting transaction types to beexecuted by said transaction executing section.
 7. A transaction machineaccording to claim 6, wherein said display control section controls thedisplay state of said display section to display said transaction typeinformation of the respective accounts in said account selection screen.8. A transaction machine according to claim 6, wherein said displaycontrol section controls the display state of said display section toclearly display, in said account selection screen, selection keys foraccounts associated with transaction type information includingtransaction types designated by said user through input section.
 9. Atransaction machine according to claim 6, wherein said display controlsection controls the display state of said display section to display,on said transaction selection screen for the pertinent account, onlyselection keys for transaction types designated by said transaction typeinformation associated with an account designated by said user throughsaid input section.
 10. A transaction machine according to claim 8,wherein said display control section controls the display state of saiddisplay section such that a restriction releasing key for releasing therestriction on the selection of said accounts is displayed in saidaccount selection screen and, when said user designates said restrictionreleasing key through said input section, the selection keys for all theaccounts included in said transaction data are made selectable anddisplayed in said account selection screen.
 11. A transaction machineaccording to claim 9, wherein said display control section controls thedisplay state of said display section such that a restriction releasingkey for releasing the restriction on the selection of said transactiontypes is displayed and, when said user designates said restrictionreleasing key through said input section, the selection keys for all thetransaction types are displayed in said transaction selection screen.12. A transaction machine according to claim 5 further comprising:changing means for changing said intended use information read out fromsaid portable storage device; and writing means for writing saidintended use information changed by said changing means into saidportable storage device through said communicating section.
 13. Atransaction machine according to claim 12, wherein said display controlsection causes a setting changing key for commanding changes of saidintended use information to be displayed on said display section and,when said user designates said setting changing key through said inputsection, causes a setting changing screen to be displayed on saiddisplay section, and said user changes said intended use informationusing said input section, by referring to said setting changing screen.14. A transaction machine according to claim 6 further comprising:changing means for changing said transaction type information read outfrom said portable storage device; and writing means for writing saidtransaction type information changed by said changing means into saidportable storage device through said communicating section.
 15. Atransaction machine according to claim 14, wherein said display controlsection causes a setting changing key for commanding changes of saidtransaction type information to be displayed on said display sectionand, when said user designates said setting changing key through saidinput section, causes a setting changing screen to be displayed on saiddisplay section, and said user changes said transaction type informationusing said input section, by referring to said setting changing screen.